The track they were following had once been made by wagons, but the grass had long overgrown it.

The elm and plane-tree forest on both sides of them was so dense and overgrown with creepers that it was impossible to see anything through it.

Nearly every tree was enveloped from top to bottom with wild grape vines, and dark bramble bushes covered the ground thickly.

Every little glade was overgrown with blackberry bushes and grey feathery reeds.

In places, large hoof-prints and small funnel-shaped pheasant-trails led from the path into the thicket.